IMPACT OF HEALTH EDUCATION ON PRIMARY HEALTHCARE DELIVERY SYSTEM IN MAIDUGURI METROPOLITAN COUNCIL, BORNO STATE

Abstract

This study assessed the impacts of health education in primary health care delivery system in
Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno state. Survey research design was used. The population of
the study was one thousand four hundred (1400) health workers. The simple random sampling
method was used to select the sample for the study which consisted of ten (10) health workers in each
ward totalling one hundred and fifty (150) respondents. Data collected was described using
frequency counts and percentage score and the hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square test at 0.05
level of significance. The result of the study revealed that health education has helped to prevent
diseases, lessen money spent on treatment, change people attitude towards health care and has also
encouraged health workers to devote more time to improving the health status of the community
through primary health care delivery system. Health education has tremendous impact on
modification of individuals behaviour which reduced mobility and mortality rate and has also
provided more aids to situations of extreme stress, anxiety, depression and other emotional
disturbances in an affordable and acceptable manner. But not all communities have benefited or
engaged in health and community development activities. It was concluded that health education
has played a major role in primary health care system by preventing diseases, lessen money spent on
treatment, changed people attitudes to positive behaviours. Based on the findings, it was
recommended that the government should bring free and compulsory health care services to every
doorstep of individuals in the community. Moreso, regular monitoring and evaluation should be
carried out on primary health care delivery system to ensure availability of health services to every
community in the metropolis.